An avid reader, she employed her love of history during a three-year stint writing “Edmonton Origins,” a column that followed the adventures of the colourful characters who helped build Edmonton, Alberta for (Our World 50+magazine).

In 2001, she indulged her interest in politics by running for town councillor in Gibbons, Alberta. To her amazement, she won. She is now in her second term.

As a prairie girl, born and raised in central Alberta, her first children's book, John Diefenbaker: The outsider who refused to quit, was a labour of love. “I always knew John was well-liked on the prairies, but what I never really understood until researching this book is that to many people he was larger than life, a hero. So many people still speak of him with great fondness.”

Lanny holds a diploma in radio and TV arts from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, as well as a certificate in local government, municipal management from the University of Alberta. She works as a freelance writer, doing health, environmental, and family-oriented stories for magazines such as Canadian Living, Treehouse Canadian Family, and Canadian Geographic. She also teaches writing.

Lanny's other books include Titanic: The Canadian Connection (2006) and Mummies: All Wrapped Up (2006). Her fourth book, Rebel Politicians, is due out in late 2007.

When she's not writing, Lanny likes to read, swim, and garden — and just hang out with her son Daniel, daughter Julia, and husband Bernie.